Northern Trust Open

Pacific Palisades, California (in LA)

Riviera Country Club (Opened 1926, Designer, George C. Thomas, Jr.; Redesign, Tom Fazio, 2008)

7,349 yards. Par 71 (35-36)

Majors: 1948 U.S. Open (Ben Hogan), 1983 PGA Championship (Hal Sutton), 1995 PGA (Steve Elkington).

Defending Champion: Bubba Watson

Purse: $6,700,000; First place: $1,206,000

TV: Today-Friday: Golf Channel: 5-8 PM ET/4-7 PM CT. Saturday: Golf: 1-2:30 PM ET/ 12-1:30 PM CT, CBS 3-6 PM ET/2-5 PM CT. Sunday: Golf, 1-2:30 PM ET/12-1:30 PM CT; CBS: 3-6:30 PM ET/2-5:30 PM CT.

Weather: Today: Sunny, 73, wind SW 9 MPH. Friday: Partly Cloudy, 0 % rain, high 68, Wind SSW 8 MPH. Saturday: Partly cloudy, 20% rain, high 65, wind, SSE 8 MPH. Sunday; AM showers then partly cloudy, 50% AM rain, high 62, wind SSW 9 MPH.

Key groups: 10:22 AM ET/9:22 AM CT; Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia, Fred Couples; 3:02 PM ET/2:02 PM CT; Bill Haas, Bubba, Dustin Johnson; 3:12 PM ET/2:12 PM CT: Brandt Snedeker, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk. 3:12 PM ET/2:12 CT off 9: Hunter Mahan, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley.

Key Holes at Riviera:

No.2

471 yards, Par 4

The hardest hole on the course, this hole is annually rated as one of the toughest par fours on the PGA tour. The hole plays into a prevailing breeze, and requires a long straight tee shot to a fairway protected by trees on the right and the driving range (out of bounds) on the left. A mid-long iron is required to reach the elevated putting surface which is guarded by a steep hillside on the right and a pair of very deep bunkers on the left. Four is always a good score here.

No.4

236 yards, Par 3

Ben Hogan called it “the greatest Par-3 in America.” The fourth is played directly into the sea breeze and offers two lines of attack. For the bold players, direct carry can be attempted across a massive, 60-yard long bunker that actually fronts the green, while the more conservative player can play it safely to the right and play it around the sand. The putting surface moves from right to left and can be difficult to two putt.

No.9

458 yards, Par 4

One of the best par fours in America according to the pros, the ninth runs slightly uphill to a deep narrow green. It’s initial challenge is a pair of fairway bunkers 225 and 280 yards out, so either hitting between them with a three wood or pulling out the big stick for guys like Bubba and Dustin and carrying the second bunker is in play. The approach is one of the toughest at Riviera because the green slopes steeply from the back to the front and with front right and back left pin placements can cause more three-putts than any other green.

No.15

487 yards, Par 4

The last of the back nine’s long, into the wind par 4’s, it’s held by many pros to be the hardest one to hit in two at Riviera. It’s a sharp dogleg right and challenges the longer hitters to spear the corner bunker in hopes of shortening the par 4. The green is huge and has a big bunker in front and is divided by a big swale in the middle of it and separates a sloping left side from a right section tucked dangerously behind the sand. Four is a good score and you don’t lose ground with a par.

No. 17

590 yards, Par 5

The long 17th has a prevailing tailwind, but it still remains a full throttle three shot hole for most every player except the monster long guys. The tee shot must avoid a large right side bunker, but the second shot is even tougher where considerably more sand protects the optimum left side lay-up area. The green is two-tiered and flanked closely on the right by an intimidating, deep bunker which defends any right back pins.

No.18

Par 4, 475 yards

One of the most famous finishing holes in golf, the primary test lies in a very intimidating tee shot, a semi-blind drive played to a fairway hidden beyond a steep, Kikuyu grass-covered hillside. From there, a mid-to long iron is generally needed to reach a bunkerless putting surface, which is surrounded by an amphitheater-like setting with the crowd and grandstand above. Bubba sank a 25 footer to win on 18 last year. Phil won here in dramatic fashion in 2008 and 2009 and going back in the day, Steve Elkington won with a birdie in the playoff hole to win the PGA here in ’95.

Contenders:

Bubba

Defending champion, have to respect that. His length really helps him on this somewhat lengthy course and his ability to work the ball will be a big help. If his putter is cookin, Bubba could be in the winner’s circle for a back to back.

Jordan Spieth

Usually have Spieth in the mix. He finished tied seventh last week at Pebble Beach and shot 68-68 the final two days. Doesn’t have great length, but his accuracy and his short game will have him in the hunt. He’s not short, so he can get it out there around 300 which is enough. If he’s en fuego with the putter, Jordan could be the man.

Brandt Snedeker (no homer comments, please Pablo)

Brandt dominated the field on Sunday last week. Another guy like Spieth who isn’t monster long, but long enough and can get it out there when he needs to. His driver is extremely solid, as are his irons, and another guy who can go off with the putter. Brandt’s work with Butch Harmon, his new swing coach since last July, is really paying dividends.

Dustin Johnson

DJ has gotten it together since his return from his leave of absence. He finished t-4 last week at Pebble with a final round 66. He finished second here last year to Bubba with a final round 66. Massively long, if he’s accurate and putts like he can when he’s on fire, like DJ to get it done.

Nick Watney

Finished second last week at Pebble shooting 65-69-65-69. California guy and has the game to win here. Long. Just a solid player.

Harris English

Finished T-10 here last year shooting 70-69-69-67. Excellent player. He’s kind of an underrated player like Russell Henley, but can play with the likes of the other youthful guys like Spieth and Patrick Reed. Really like him.

Winner:

Dustin Johnson

He looks back and better than ever.